Wednesday, July 29, 2009

New Court Decision Jeopardizes Affordable Rental Housing

Last week, a California Appellate court took a giant step toward eliminating affordable rental housing in communities across California. In Palmer/Sixth Street Properties v. City of Los Angeles, the Court ruled that a Los Angeles inclusionary housing law was preempted by the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act. As a result of this decision, inclusionary housing laws across the state are in jeopardy of being tossed out by over-zealous judges.

There has been virtually no coverage of this Court ruling, perhaps in part because the decision is cloaked in legalese that does not make for riveting news headlines. But behind the legalese is one undeniable fact: three judges on the Court of Appeal have rewritten California law, and jeopardized the development of affordable rental housing across the state. This decision must be reversed, and it had better happen quick.

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